Tollway worker killed, trooper seriously injured in I-88 crash

An Illinois Tollway employee was killed and a state trooper was seriously injured in a crash on I-88 in west suburban Aurora Monday night, authorities said. / photo by NVP News.

An Illinois Tollway employee was killed and an Illinois State Police trooper was seriously injured in a crash on the Reagan Memorial Tollway in west suburban Aurora Monday night.

The tollway employee has been identified as Vincent Petrella, according to a statement issued by the Illinois Tollway.

Petrella was an operator laborer for the tollway since 2005 and began his career as a toll collector, according to the statement.

“Vincent was a hard-working family man and father of two who was committed to doing his best each day to serve our customers on the Tollway,” Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur said in the statement.

An Illinois State Police trooper was also seriously injured in a crash.

The trooper was assisting Petrella with a disabled semitrailer truck about 9:45 p.m. near Eola Road, authorities said.

“All vehicles were struck by another semi and became engulfed in flames,” Illinois State Police spokeswoman Monique Bond said in a statement.

Petrella was pronounced dead at the scene and the trooper was hospitalized in serious condition at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, officials said.